Horn Area
Current Students of Prof. Nelsen
If you would like to see a student's biography, please either click on their name or scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Undergraduates (Click here for the Graduates list)
- Jesse Clevenger: BM
- Eric Dumouchelle: BM
- Clayton Ellis: BM
- Jamie Leff: BM
- Lauren Migalski: BM
- Raleigh Mostov: BME
- Charlotte O'Connor: BM
- Stephanie Reusch: BME
- Bradford Shaw: BME
- Sara Southwood: BM
- Katie Upton: BM
Graduates
- Deanna Carpenter: DM Candidate
- Ashley Cumming - Brass Graduate Assistant: DM
- Julia Gerhardt: PD
- Eric Gilfus: MM
- Ben Harris: MM
- Mark Holodak: MM
- Olivier Huebscher: MM
- Clark Lucien Hutchinson: PD
- Peggy Moran: DM
- Jenny Smoak: PD
- Kenji Ulmer: MM
- Michael Walker: DM
- Lucas Workman: MM
Undergraduate Biographies
Click for Graduate Biographies
Jesse Clevenger is a Junior attending the Jacobs School of Music for Horn Performance. Before coming here, he played with the Midwest Young Artists Youth Symphony and Chicago Youth Symphony. The New Trier High School Bands and Orchestras were also crucial parts of his musical training. Jesse has attended a number of All State Band festivals as well as touring through several countries in South America with the Chicago Youth Symphony. Since arriving at Indiana University, Jesse has continued to love the performance of orchestral and chamber music. He aspires to work in any one of the great symphonies around the world. Recently, Jesse had the privilege and pleasure of performing several concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as an extra. Jesse enjoys camping and climbing in the Olympic Mountain Ranges of Washington State, watching lots of movies, reading books, cooking, and being with his wonderful friends.
jessclev@indiana.edu
Eric Dumouchelle, from Dublin, Ohio, has played the horn since sixth grade and will be a sophomore in Fall 2011, studying with Professor Nelsen. In addition to having played in his school band and orchestra, he was a part of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, the OMEA All-State Orchestra and Band, and the New Albany Symphony Orchestra during his high school career. Eric received first place at the Heidelberg University Pacesetter Competition, in the Senior Instrumental division. In the summer of 2009, he attended Interlochen Arts Camp as an Emerson Scholar and played in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. This past summer, Eric was a part of the National Music Festival in Floyd, VA, and the Marrowstone Music Festival in Bellingham, WA. He has an affinity for Russian music, especially Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky, who are his two favorite composers. Outside of music, Eric enjoys listening to all types of music and spending time with his closest friends. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Horn Performance and is extremely excited to be back in Bloomington for a new year!
edumouch@umail.iu.edu
Clayton Ellis is currently a freshman at Indiana University pursuing a bachelor degree in horn performance under Jeff Nelsen. For his secondary education, Clayton attended the Orange County High School of the Arts and Interlochen Arts Academy. Clayton has participated in ensembles such as the IAA Orchestra, Band, and Brass Ensemble, the Saddelback Honors Brass Quintet; as well as serving as principal in groups such as the OCHSA Orchestra, OCHSA Wind Ensemble, the Saddelback Wind Ensemble, and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. Clayton has attended intensive summer programs such as the Interlochen Center for the Arts Horn Institute and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In his free time Clayton enjoys recreational sports such as rock climbing and racquetball.
claytonwrellis@gmail.com
Jamie Leff grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, being privileged to live less than an hour from the Chicago Symphony! She played principal horn in Buffalo Grove High School’s Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra. She also participated in Marching and Pep Band, Jazz Band, District 214 Honors Band and Orchestra, auditioned into IMEA district VII Band and Orchestra, and received the Director’s Award in Band. Outside of school, she was a part of Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra and played in her MYA quintet, “The Brass is Half Full.” She also had the incredible experience of playing in a masterclass for Dale Clevenger and playing under Gustavo Dudamel’s direction in the Chicago Youth Music Initiative. She adores playing and listening to chamber music, playing basketball, running, meeting new people, and loves the CSO! Jamie is in the class of 2013 at The Jacobs School of Music and is studying horn performance with Jeff Nelsen. In the Fall semester of 2011, she will be studying abroad in Vienna with the third horn in the Wiener Philharmoniker! But can’t wait to meet all the new horns when she returns!
Lauren Migalski, 21, grew up and spent most of her life in Southern New Jersey, until she decided to move to Indiana full time. Before studying with Jeff Nelsen and adapting to the Fearless lifestyle, Lauren studied with bass trombonist, Barry McCommon. This year she will be Studio Nelsen's senior(!!!!) pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree and a speech and hearing minor. Lauren is fluent in American Sign Language and will be getting certified to be an interpreter starting in the spring. After graduating she will be pursuing a license in Massage Therapy. Outside of music, Lauren's passions include, rock climbing, American Sign Language, spending time in the sun, cooking, watching lots of movies, walking and taking LOTS of pictures. Lauren is an intense animal lover that talks incessantly about her puppies,Remi and Bailey. This year she has made a fearless new addition to her family! A people loving, attention- hungry kitten named Spartacus! Lauren's most recent addictions are Chopped, Food Network Star, Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsey's the f word (f for food), and Iron Chef America.
Raleigh Mostov, who grew up in Dublin, Ohio, is a freshman Music Education major. She will be a freshman in the fall of 2011 and is studying with Professor Nelsen. She began playing the horn when she was in 4th grade and has loved it ever since. She was a part of her high school's marching band, concert band, orchestra, pit orchestra, and pep band. She also participated in a number of groups such as the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, OMEA All-State Orchestra, The OSU Honor Band, and Capital Honor Band. She chose to apply to IU after attending and loving the IU Summer Music Clinic for two years. Raleigh loves the french horn, but also just any music in general. Outside of music, she plays ultimate frisbee, makes cupcakes, rides her bake, and attempts to rap.
Charlotte O’Connor is from Plano, Texas and a 2011graduate of Plano West Senior High School where she was the principal horn of the PWSH Wind Ensemble and PWSH Orchestra. She was also a member of the TMEA All-State Philharmonic Orchestra and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Charlotte was Drum Major of the PWSH Marching Band her senior year and also in her sophomore year for the Shepton High School Marching Band. She has received the nationally recognized John Phillip Sousa Award and Festival Disney Outstanding Concert Soloist Award, as well as many TMEA Solo & Ensemble awards.
Charlotte has attended summer programs at the Interlochen School of the Arts and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She is honored to have been named a Barbara and David Jacobs Scholar and be a member of Studio Nelson as she fearlessly pursues a Horn Performance major.
In her free time, Charlotte enjoys cupcakes, Starbuck’s, working out, and concerts - especially when they are shared with friends. View her website at www.charlotte-horn.com
Stephanie Reusch is a freshman at Indiana University studying music education. Stephanie was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and recently graduated from Mount Rainier High School. She began her studies in music on the violin at the age of 5 and switched to the horn at age 12 due to the lack of strings program at her middle school. She began lessons under Matthew Kruse and after some time decided to make horn her primary instrument. Throughout high school, Stephanie has participated in All-State and All-Northwest ensembles, both regional and state-wide Solo and Ensemble competitions, and ensembles such as Normandy Park Youth Orchestra, Tacoma Youth Symphony and the Mount Rainier High School Wind Ensemble. Certain honors Stephanie has acheived include winning the 2010 Tacoma Youth Symphony Concerto Competition and receiving composite superior ratings at State Solo and Ensemble Competitions in 2010 and 2011. Aside from the horn, Stephanie enjoys competitive swimming and street soccer
Bradford James Shaw is currently student teaching at Columbus North High School in Columbus, IN. Brad is finishing his final year in the Bachelors of Music Education program at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Brad is a French Horn player and has studied with Jeff Nelsen, Richard Seraphinoff, Dale Clevenger, and Myron Bloom. In his little spare time, Brad enjoys playing videogames, catching up on the latest Drum Corps news, and reading books on his Kindle.
Sara Southwood is a freshman at Indiana University pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance with Jeff Nelsen. Sara grew up in Avon, Indiana where she played in the national champion marching band, and was also a four-year member of the wind ensemble. Sara was also a part of the New World Youth Orchestra, IMEA Honor Band, All-State Band, All-State Orchestra, and the Army All-American Marching Band. Sara has received the John Phillip Sousa Award as well as several band and ISSMA solo and ensemble awards. She has attended the IU summer music clinic and is excited to be attending the Jacobs School of Music this fall!
Aside from then horn, Sara enjoys creating artwork and dabbling in photography. She loves to spend time outside and with her dogs. Also, she has taken up a love for the harmonica.
Katie Upton is from Des Moines, Iowa and is majoring in horn performance in the class of 2014. She attended Johnston High School and was a four-year Iowa All-Stater and a four-year member of the Honor Band and Honor Orchestra of America. Katie was the horn winner of the 2009 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and was the overall winner of the 2010 Des Moines Symphony Concerto Competition. She also enjoys playing the trumpet and was a two-year member of the Iowa Allstate Jazz Band.
Katie started playing the piano when she was six but turned her attention towards brass when she was 10. She begged her mom to let her use her savings to buy a used trumpet from a local music store and was perfectly content for a year until she heard the horn for the first time. She immediately went home and begged her parents to let her learn to play it too. She couldn't be happier than to have discovered her love for the horn and to be able to continue pursuing education on the instrument in college. Check out her website at www.katieupton.org!
uptonk@imail.iu.edu
Graduate Biographies
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Deanna Carpenter is a candidate for the DM-Brass Pedagogy degree. After completing the MM degree at IU in 2005 studying with Michael Hatfield, she stayed at IU to become a candidate for the DM degree in 2009 studying with Jeff Nelsen. She spent her Undergraduate years at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities studying with Charles Kavalovski and Herb Winslow. While there she played in the first side by side concert with the Minnesota Orchestra, was a teacher to many young horn and violin students. She was a
finalist in the 2002 Midwest Horn workshop solo competition in Oshkosh WI, and participated in workshops such as the Midwest Horn workshop in St. Louis, Western Illinois Horn Festival, the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, The International Horn Symposium in Denver, Fearless Audition Training for Hornists with Jeff Nelsen, and Baroque Trumpet making workshop with Robert Barclay and Richard Seraphinoff. Deanna is currently back home in North Dakota working on completing her final document while helping with the family business and taking auditions. Away from the Horn, she enjoys running and playing with her little dog.
deacarpe@indiana.edu
Ashley Cumming is in her final year of coursework in the Doctorate of Music and is the Brass Graduate Assistant. A native of Cambridge, Ontario, Ashley has been featured as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician worldwide, including principal horn with the Aradia Ensemble in Sulmona, Italy, UANL Symphony Orchestra in Monterrey, Mexico, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Francophonie in Montreal, Quebec, and as a concerto soloist with the Sooke Philharmonic in British Columbia and the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has also performed in prestigious programs such as the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts Summer Masterclasses, and International Sommerakademie in Austria. Ashley earned her Masters in Performance with Kurt Kellan at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia and her Bachelor of Music in Performance with Nina Brickman at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. In her free time, Ashley enjoys great friends, traveling, cooking, dance, golf and running. For more information, visit www.ashleycumming.com.
Julie Gerhardt earned a bachelors degree in instrumental music education from Indiana University in 2001. During her time at IU, she also performed for two summers as part of Star of Indiana's Brass Theater and for one summer as part of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
After graduation, Julie taught middle school band in Kennesaw, Georgia, served as a clinician for many bands in the Atlanta area, was on the staffs of several area marching bands, and taught at a number of middle school band camps. She also maintained a private studio of horn students who achieved high levels of success in Solo/Ensemble Festival, District Honor Band, and All-State Band.
During this time, Julie freelanced in the Atlanta area, filled a one-year substitute position with the Georgia Philharmonic Orchestra, and was a member for five years of the Cobb Wind Symphony, performing with the CWS at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2003. She was also a member of Star United, the DCA mini-corps affiliated with the Star Alumni Association, in 2006 and 2007.
Julie completed her master of arts degree in music studies at the University of New Hampshire in 2010, and has served on the staff of the Kendall Betts' Horn Camp since 2009.
Julie's primary teachers include Richard Deane, Michael Hatfield, Myron Bloom, Dr. Jean Martin-Williams, Kendall Betts, Jeff Nelsen, and Rick Seraphinoff.
jgerhard@indiana.edu
At the age of six Eric Gilfus began studying piano and within a year, he performed his first piano recital. He fell in love with the horn when he was 12, and continues a deep and happy relationship with this instrument today.
Eric Gilfus has performed with many professional ensembles including the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the American Horn Quartet and has performed with professional Central Florida wind ensemble Southern Winds. Eric has also been invited to perform with such diverse groups such as colleges, churches, basketball teams, theater companies and PGA events. He is a proponent of new music, and has been asked to debut the horn solo "Estudio" by composer Omar Surillo. In addition Eric has been working to incorporate horn into other styles of music not typical to the horn such as Folk rock and Jazz. Eric also enjoys performing in outreach programs at hospitals, hospices, libraries and schools, and has had experience working as a clinician, coach, and as a theory teacher at the Eastern U.S. Music Camp in upstate New York as well as local high schools. Currently pursuing a Masters of Music Performance at Indiana University in Bloomington, Eric is a scholarship student of Jeff Nelsen who is a Yamaha Performing Artist and member of the Canadian Brass. Eric has also studied with professional hornists such as Aaron Brask, Richard Chenowith, Ben Lieser, Kevin Reid, and David Johnson.Prior to entering Indiana University, Eric was accepted to and attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida, as well as the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, both well known for their exceptional music programs.
As an alumnus and lifelong member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Eric Gilfus proudly calls himself a Sinfonian.
Ben Harris is starting his MM at IU with Jeff Nelsen and is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University. During his time at SPU, Ben studiedwith Rodger Burnett. Ben was principal horn of the Thalia Symphonyfrom 2009-2011 and played principal in the SPU Wind Symphony for fouryears. He has also appeared in concerts with the Lake Union CivicOrchestra, Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bellevue Opera. Ben hasstudied under the teaching of Bob Bonnevie, Jim Weaver, and Jeff Fair. Aside from horn playing, Ben loves wine, soccer and cycling.
Mark Holodak is a graduate of the Class of 2010 from C.W. Post Long Island University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors program with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and from the studio of Sharon Moe. He is currently attending Indiana University in pursuit of his Master of Music Degree in Horn Performance as a member of the studio of Jeffrey Nelsen. He has most recently been a member of the Ridgewood Concert Band of Ridgewood, New Jersey, a professional concert band comprised of freelance musicians, music educators and graduated music students. He also played in the C.W. Post Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble as an alumnus during the 2010-2011 academic year. His ultimate goal upon completion of his degree is to seek employment as a concert hornist.
Olivier Huebscher is starting his first year of the MM program and is graduate of the Universityof Redlands in Redlands California, but he was born in Biel, Switzerland and maintains his Swiss-citizenship. He has studying with Laura Brenes and Thomas Mueller, natural horn specialist and Principal of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra and Bern Symphony Orchestra. At the University of Redlands, Olivier has served as Principal horn for the school's Orchestra and Wind Ensemble as well as Associate Principal and 4th horn for the Redlands Symphony Orchestrafor 4 years. Last year he earned a spot in the prestigious University of Redlands President's Honor Recital. In addition, Olivier has been an extremely active chamber musician. He was the founding member of the University of Redlands Horn Ensemble. Olivier has performed with the Watchorn Trioat the Redlands Chamber society's young artists concert. Olivier was also a member of the UniversityChapel Singers and has performed in international festivals with that group.Olivier also has a love of mentoring and community service. He has served as CommunityService Coordinator, Treasurer and Vice President for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. He also was the Recipient of the Dean's Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service for the 2008/2009 academicyear, and he served as Peer Advisor for Dr. David Scott's freshman seminar class which provided a wonderful opportunity to mentor new students.
Peggy Moran holds the positions of 2nd horn in the Lafayette Symphony and 4th horn in the Richmond (Indiana) Symphony. She also plays as an extra horn with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the Louisville Orchestra. She has performed guest solo and chamber recitals at Franklin College and on the Young Artist Series at IUPUI. Peggy graduated from the University of Chicago in 1999 with a BA in Music, with a thesis paper in music theory. She completed an MM in 2001 and a Performer’s Diploma in 2002 at Indiana University. Her main teachers at IU were Michael Hatfield and Richard Seraphinoff, and while in Chicago she studied with Ethel Merker. Peggy has done additional studies with Doug Hill of the University of Wisconsin; Lucinda Lewis of the New Jersey Symphony; and Edwin Thayer, formerly of the National Symphony. She is the private French horn Instructor at Marian University, in Indianapolis, and teaches private students in the Indianapolis area. Since 2007, she has been a board member of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp. Peggy has been taking yoga classes for many years, and currently takes one or two vinyasa yoga classes a week.
maamoran@umail.iu.edu
Jenny Smoak is a first-year Performer Diploma student studying modern horn with Jeff Nelsen and natural horn with Richard Seraphinoff. Having just completed her Bachelor's Degree in May 2011 with Jeff, she is returning (and excited) for another year here at IU! While at IU, Jenny has performed with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic for 2 years on their sublist along with participating in a number of ensembles including Indiana University’s Philharmonic, Chamber, Festival, Concert, Symphony, and Baroque Orchestras, Symphonic Band, Horn Choir, Brass Choir, and other various chamber ensembles. A native of Raleigh, NC, Jenny performed for 4 years with the nationally award-winning British style Triangle Youth Brass Band, playing the Eb Tenor Horn. Recently, Jenny has attended Jeff Nelsen’s Fearless Performance for Musicians Seminar, Chautauqua Summer Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, and the International Horn Society Symposium over the summers. Having studied abroad in Vienna, Austria in the Fall of 2009, Jenny studied horn with Wolfgang Vladar (Vienna Philharmonic) and traveled around Europe meeting and hearing glorious musicians from all over the world! Outside of playing the horn, Jenny has been named a “Founders Scholar” by Indiana University (2009) and is also an avid participant and leader in Cancer Awareness community events throughout Bloomington. She loves photography, dogs, baking cakes, reading, drinking hot chocolate, and learning something new everyday!
Kenji Ulmer graduated in 2010 with a BA in instrumental performance from the University of Washington , where he studied under Prof. David Kappy. From 2007 through 2009 he studied with Mark Robbins, assistant principal horn of the Seattle Symphony, and in 2009 at the Texas Music Festival with Roger Kaza, principal horn of the St. Louis Symphony. He served for three years as principal horn in both the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra and the University Wind Ensemble, with which he toured Japan in spring, 2010. In 2009-2010 he was named principal horn for the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra.
A passionate golfer, Kenji spends the bulk of his free time in a bunker understanding the profound relationship between the French horn, a sloped green, and a wedge shot from thirty-five yards.
Michael Walker hails from Spokane Washington but grew up in California. In 2009, Mike graduated from San Jose State University with a BM degree in horn performance. From 2009 to 2011 he held the Graduate Assistantship in horn at the University of Northern Colorado. This year, Mike joins studio Nelsen as he begins a Doctor of Music in horn. In addition to symphonic and chamber music repertoire Mike is an advocate of both opera and new music. In summer 2009 he attended the Bel Canto Institute, in Florence Italy to study opera horn excerpts and currently plays with the Utah Festival Opera. Since it’s founding, mike has been a performing artist with Melos Music, an organization of artists who collaborate and advance new music to a global community. Outside of playing the horn, Mike loves to brew his own beer, cook, hang out with his wife and enjoy the outdoors with his dog!
Lucas Workman received his Bachelors of Music in performance from Capital University in the spring of 2011 where he studied with Nicolas J. Perrini, Elisa Belck, Julia Rose, and Kimberly McCann. Lucas was previously the principal horn player for the Capital University Symphonic Winds and the Capital/Bexley Community Orchestra from the spring of 2009 to the spring of 2011. In the fall of 2010 he was selected to play Mahler’s 1st Symphony with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra for their season opening concert. Lucas will be entering his first year at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in pursuit of his Masters in Music as a member of Studio Nelsen. Outside of music and the horn, Lucas enjoys the hobby of model aviation, auto-racing, video games, cooking, and watching movies.
